Means for transporting viscous fluid materials



Sept. 9, 1958. G. w. COLTON MEANS FOR TRANSPORTING VISCOUS FLUIDMATERIALS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 10, 1954 INVENTOR ATTORNEYS Sept.9, 1958 G. w. COLTON MEANS FOR TRANSPORTING vIscous FLUID MATERIALSFiled Sept. 10, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 2v/////////r//////////////////////L7// ////////////////f/4 V'IAVIII 1' IINVEQOR Q? 14 efiazh/ BY ATTORNEYS United States Patent MEANS FORTRANSPORTIN G VISCOUS FLUID MATERIALS George W. Colton, New Haven,Conn., assignor to Fluid Systems, Incorporated, Hamden, Conn., acorporation of Connecticut Application September 10, 1954, Serial No.455,325

19 Claims. (Cl. 222-446) This invention relates to an apparatus andmethod for transporting heavy liquid materials, and particularly to onewherein heat is applied by electrical means to the conductors in whichthe liquid is transported whereby the viscosity of the liquid will bereduced to render its transportation less difficult. Certain features ofthe invention are applicable to the transportation of liquids whether ornot electrical heating means are employed.

In the transportation or conduction of viscous liquids from a point ofstorage, for example, such as a tank, to a device adapted to use orreceive the liquid, difiiculty is often encountered not only in startingthe flow due to the inherent resistance of the liquid to flow but alsoin maintaining a steady and constant flow without the maintenance ofexcessively high pressure. In transportation of some liquids, such asheavy fuel oil, for example, from a storage tank to a burner where theoil is to be used, it is customary to provide both a supply and a returnline leading from the tank to the burner, or burners, and

Patented Sept. 9, 1958 ice ' liquids such as fuel oil from a supply tankto a point of vide the pipe with heat insulation which also increasesthe expense of installing both supply and return pipes.

, Such a system for transporting heavy fuel oils as described above isshown in the patent to H. A. Lines, No. 2,224,403, granted December 10,1940, wherein the supply and return pipes leading from the storage tankto the burner are heated electrically by the electrical heating of thewalls of the pipes. It is contemplated by the present invention toprovide an efficient and satisfactory system of transporting heavyliquids such as heavy fuel oils by the use of a single supply pipeleading from the supply tank to the burner. is provided adjacent thetank which may, as shown, be housed or installed within the tank itself.This structure includes the pump for effecting the flow of the liquid tothe point of delivery and, as the pump is designed to deliver an excessof liquid, there is also included in the unit a by-pass to return theliquid to thetank and a heating device to heat the oil drawn from thetank by the pump. All of this structure is located adjacent the tank orwithin the tank so that only one pipe, the supply pipe, leads from thetank to the burner or burners, thus effecting a considerable reductionin the cost of installation.

In addition, as will hereinafter appear, certain other advantages flowfrom the provision of the pump, the

As illustrated, a unitary structure motor for driving the pump, a heaterfor the oil, and

of electrical current to the supply pipe or a considerable delivery.

Still another object of the invention is to provide means fortransporting heavy liquids such as heavy fuel oils, for example, from asupply tank to a point of delivery wherein means are provided to draw anexcess of the liquid from the tank and this excess of liquid is im--mediately returned to the tank at a point adjacent thereto; thus makingnecessary only a single supply line leading from the tank to the pointof delivery.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a unitary structurewhich may be installed Within a supply tank for heavy liquids, thestructure comprising a pump to draw the liquid from the tank and forceit to a point .of delivery, a motor for driving the pump, a mechanismfor returning excess liquid to the tank, and also, if desirable, meanswithin this unitary structure for heating the oil drawn from thesupplytank.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a new and improvedmethod for transporting viscous liquids such as fuel oils, for example,from a supply tank to a point of delivery such as a burner.

To these and other ends the invention consists in the novel features andcombinations of parts to be herein after described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings: 1

Fig. 'l is a diagrammatic view showing atransportation system fordelivering heavy liquids such as fueloil; for example, from a supplytank to a point of delivery such as a burner or burners in which the oilis to be consumed; and

Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the pipe unit illustrated as installedwithin a supply tank.

To illustrate a preferred embodiment of my invention I have shown inFig. l of the drawings a supply tank 10 and oil burners illustrateddiagrammatically at 11 and 12. From the tank 10 a supply or deliverypipe 13 leads to the burners, this pipe branching so that one burner maybe served by the branch 14 and the other by the branch 15. As it isdesired that the pipe be electrically heated, insulated joints 16 and 17may be installed between the branch lines 14 and 15 and the burnerswhich they serve.

Also as shown in Fig. 1, an electric current is applied to the Wall ofthe pipe by means of a transformer designated generally by the numeral18. Surrounding the pipe 13 and also the branches 14 and 15 isinsulating material 19 which will preferably have both heat andelectrical insulation characteristics, and surrounding. this insulationis a protective sheath 20 of suitable material.

As illustrated, the secondary 21 of the transformer is connected to thepipe 13 by the line 22,. and connected by the line 23 to areturn-current-carrying cable 23*. The current may then be completedthrough that section of the pipe between the transformer connections andthe burners by means of an electrical connection between the branch 15of the pipe and the current-carrying cable 23 As will be hereinafterexplained, current is also applied to that portion of the pipe betweenthe transformer and the tank.

The mechanism for pumping and delivering the oil to the pipe 13 andreturning an excess of oil supplied by the pump to the tank is shownmore particularly in Fig. 2. As illustrated, this mechanism is containedwithin a housing or well comprising side walls 26, a bottom 27 anda top28, all of which parts are secured together to make a pressure andfluid-tight structure, and these parts may 50 to carry current betweenthese members.

beef .metal or .any other suitable material. As. shown in Fig. 2, theside walls may be provided with a skirt portion 29 extending slightlybelow the bottom 27 of the unit. The side walls 26 may be linedinteriorly with a heat-insulating lining 26 The tank may be providedwith a flanged opening 30, and the top 28 of the housing may be extendedlaterally to overlie a vflange 31 on the tank so as to besecuredthereto. .A gasket 32 of insulating material is disposed between theouter periphery of the top 28 and the flange 31 so as to insulate thehousing from the tank.

Supported from the bottom 27 of the well upon a pad 33 of electricalinsulating material is a support or standardg34 .by which is carried thepump motor 35 and the pump shown diagrammatically at 36, the pump beingdriven by the shaft 37. The motor and pump are submerged inxtheihousingor well and the motor casing is of skeletonformso that the motor runs inoil. The pump is provided with an inlet pipe 38 which extends upwardlyto a point which may be adjacent to 'the top of the tank, where it isprovided with a horizontal perforated section 39 which connects with asuction or supply pipe described hereinafter, through which the oil, ifthe device is employed in an oil transportation system, is drawn intothe pump. The perforations 39 of this section deliver oil into the wellformed by the housing walls 26, 27 and 28. Adjacent the lower end of thepipe 38 'is a nipple 40 communicating with the pipe and with theinterior of the housing 26 which, as will be explained hereinafter,provides forthe drawing off by the pump of any water or other extraneousmaterial which may collect in the bottorn of the housing and for thepriming of the pump upon the initiation of operation of the latter.

Supported from the bottom 27 of the housing is a return pipe unitconsisting of pipe sections 41 and 42, these sections being providedwith flanges 43 and 44 which may be bolted together through the wellbottom by bolts 45. An opening 46 is provided in the 'bottom of thehousing so that the pipe sections 41 and 42 communicate with theinterior of the tank and insulating gaskets. 47 are provided between theflanges 43 and 44 and the member 27 so that while the flanges areelectrically connected by the bolts, they will be insulated from thewell. It will be understood that insulating bushings may be provided inthe openings in the bottom 27 of the housing through which the boltspass.

Supported by this return unit is a supply pipe 50 which, as shown,terminates at its lower end at a point slightly above the lower open endof the pipe section 42. Elect'rical connectors or jumpers 51 may beprovided between the wall of the section 42 and the lower end of thepipe The pipe 50 maybe supported by a cap 52 separated by an insu:l'atingbushing 53 from the'pipe section 41. The upper end of the pipe 50communicates with the transverse perforated pipe 39 so as to deliver oilto the pump and to thehousing or well. It may here be noted that, aswill be explained in more detail hereinafter, when the pump is set intooperation, air will be drawn through the perforations in the pipe 39which will exhaust much of the "air from the interior of the housing,and, also, oil will be drawn through the pipe 50 to be delivered intothe housing or well, as well as to the pump, the oil in the well'reachingthe level of the perforations in the pipe 39. When these arecovered or drowned the level of the oil will rise no higher in thehousing and no more air will beexhausted unless new air or vapor isbrought up from the tank along with the oil. It will be understood thatthe nipple 40 is of a very small size as compared to the size of thepipe 38 and will only serve to prime the pump if necessary or to carryfrom the bottom of the well any moisture or other extraneous materialthat might collect there.

A pipe 54 is connected to the pump outlet, this pipe leading upwardlythrough a checkva'lve 55 anda delivery 4 "I nozzle 56 into a shell. 57within a heating unit or tank 58. The check valve 55 permits the oil topass upwardly to the heater but prevents its returning to the pump whenthe latter is inactive and also prevents air passing into the pump fromthe heater.

The shell 57 is spaced from the side walls of the tank and is closed atits upper end. It is open at its lower end and the walls are spacedfromthe bottom of the tank so that the oil delivered by the pump will passdownwardly through the shell to the bottom of the tank and thenceupwardly within the space'around the shell to an outlet pipe 59 which isconnected to the burner supply pipe 13 previously described. Therefore,the oil which is delivered by the pump will have to pass downwardly tothe bottom of the heating tank before being delivered so that thevelocity of circulation will be increased and sedimentation prevented indetrimental amounts.

Within the shell of the heating unit are 'a plurality of heating coils60, any number of which may be provided, and also within the tank' isprovided a temperature-sensing'e'lement 61.

Connected to the delivery pipe 59 by a nipple 64 is a valve casing 65containing a pressure-regulating by-pass valve 66. A return pipe 67connects the low pressure side of this valve to the return unit 41 atthe bottom of the well. The pressure-regulating valve, as shown, is inthe form of a ball valve urged against its seat by a spring 68, but itwill be understood that any desired form of "pressure-regulating valvemay be employed. This valve will permit any excess oil delivered intothe pipe 59 to return to the main supply tank 10 when the pressure belowthe valve exceeds that exerted by the spring 68. Thus the excess oilwhich has been heated by the heating unit will be returned to the tankat the point of suction about the suction pipe 50 which leads to thepump inlet.

To'prevent-any airbeing trapped in the upper part of the heating unitand to exhaust this unit of any contained air which may be released fromthe oil in the heating process, a small pipe 70 leads from the upperportion of the shell 57 into the return pipe 67 on the low pressure sideof the valve 66 so that this air will be returned to the main supplytank through the return pipe 67 and an opening 71 in the pipe section42.

Certain electrical devices necessary for the operation of the system arealso mounted within the housing such, for example, as the relay 72 and athermostat 75, the the latter being connected to the sensing device 61.A conduit 81 leads through the top 28 of the housing to accommodate acable to carry electric current to the heating device and the motor.

f JThe heating of the pipe 13 between the transformer and the burnershas already been described. It may also be desirable to heat thatportion of the pipe between the transformer and the well and in additioncertain of the pipes within the well. As already explained, the currentfrom the transformer is connected to the pipe 13 and also to the cable23 These connections are made at a substantially neutral point in theline, and the current flows in both directions from these connections.Referring to Fig. 2, the current will flow through the pipe 13, thenipple 64, valve casing 65, the return pipe 67, the re turn sections 41and 42 and by means of the jumpers 51 will be carried to the suctionpipe 50. A jumper 30 is provided between the pipe 50 and the top 28 ofthe housing. From the top of the housing -(it will be understood thatthe housing parts 26, 27 and 28 Will normally be formed of conductingmaterial such as metal) the current passes to the cable 2.3 which isbrazed at 20 to the top of the housing. Thus an electrical circuit isalso made through the pipes 13, 67, 41, 42 and 50. The pipe 38 may beinsulated from the pipe 39 byan insulated joint 82. The pipes are heatedby this passage of current-therethrough, and this serves to heat the oiladjacent the point of suction which is desirable in starting a cold"burner.

The operation of the system may now be briefly described. contains oilto a level shown at 83. There will initially, however, be no oil withinthe housing 26 when it is installed within the tank. A small amount ofoil may, however, be placed in this housing so that the oil may be drawnthrough the nipple 40 by the pump to prime the latter and insure itsoperation. With the pump in operation air is drawn through the pipe 38from the interior of the housing tending to exhaust the latter andreducing pressure in the inlet pipe 50. This suction draws the oil intothe housing through the pipe 50 until the housing is filled to the levelof the perforations in pipe 39, this level being approximately shown at$4. At the same time oil will be drawn through pipe 38 into the pump andwill be delivered to the shell 57 of the heater 58. Continued operationof the pump forces oil upwardly around the shell and out of the heaterthrough the pipe 59, and thence through the supply pipe 13 to theburner.

As has been previously stated, the capacity of the pump 36 is such thatan excess of oil is delivered to the heater and pipe 59. This excesspasses by the pressurerelief valve 66 and is returned by pipe 67 to thereturn pipe sections 41 and 42. It will be understood that thetransformer 18 will be connected with a source of current to applycurrent to, and therefore heat the Walls of the pipe 13 and in additionthe pipes 67, 41, 42 and 50 so that the oil may be heated during itspassage to the burners and also during its return from the heater 58 tothe supply tank 10. As the lower ends of the pipes 42 and 50 willnormally be submerged in the oil in the supply tank during operation ofthe device, the oil Within the pipe section 42 may be heated by thiscurrent prior to the starting of the burner in order to assist in theinitiation of flow.

It will be understood that the well or housing will at all times be fullor nearly full of warm oil, and this available reservoir of warm oilconstitutes a thermal fly wheel in that warm oil will be stored withinthe housing to be available for use upon initiation of the pump. As thewell will always be full of oil up to the level of the perforations inthe pipe 39, the pump as well as the heater will be immersed in the oiland the pump will never lose its prime. This in effect provides a valvepreventing the oil from flowing back to the tank and leaving the pumpdry.

If desired, the horizontal pipe section 39 may be omitted and the upperend of the pipe 50 left open adjacent the indicated oil level 84, andlikewise the pipe 38 left open at its upper end adjacent this level.With this construction, when the pump is started, air will be drawn fromthe housing or well and, when the pressure is sufficiently reducedwithin the well, oil will be drawn into the well until the level thereinis that of the upper end of the pipe 38 when it will be drawn into thepump and discharged into the heater. The operation will otherwise be thesame as previously described, and the oil level in the Well will alwaysbe maintained at that indicated by the numeral 84 so that the pump andheater will be immersed. Even though the pump may be inoperative for along period. The Well will always remain full up to the level indicatedwhether or not the perforated pipe 39 is employed between the pipes 50and 38.

While I have shown and described a preferred embodiment of my invention,it will be understood that it is not to be limited to all of the detailsshown, but is capable of modification and variation within the spirit ofthe invention and with the scope of the claims.

What I claim is:

1. In an apparatus of the character described, a supply tank, a pumpmounted within the tank, a suction line for the pump to draw liquid fromthe tank, a delivery line receiving liquid from the pump outlet andconveying it It may be assumed that the supply tank to a point ofdelivery without the tank, a by-pass line leading from the delivery lineat a point within the tank to return a part of the liquid delivered bythe pump to the supply in the tank, a heating chamber through which theoil is forced between the pump and said point in the delivery line toheat the oil delivered by the pump, and a pressure-relief valvecontrolling the connection between said delivery line and said by-passline.

2. In an apparatus of the character described, a supply tank, a pumpmounted within the tank, a suction line for the pump to draw liquid fromthe tank, a delivery line receiving liquid from the pump outlet andconveying it to a point of delivery without the tank, a by-pass lineleading from the delivery line at a point within the tank to return apart of the liquid delivered by the pump to the supply in the tank, saidreturn being made to a point in the supply tank adjacent the suction ofthe pump, a heating chamber through which the oil is forced between thepump and said point in the delivery line to heat the oil delivered bythe pump, and a pressure-relief valve controlling the connection betweensaid delivery line and said by-pass line.

3. In an apparatus of the character described, a supply tank, a pumpmounted within the tank, a suction line for the pump to draw liquid fromthe tank, a delivery line receiving liquid from the pump outlet andconveying it to a point of delivery without the tank, a bypass lineleading from the delivery line at a point within the tank to return apart of the liquid delivered by the pump to the supply in the tank, anda pressure-relief valve controlling the connection between said deliveryline and said by-pass line, a heating chamber through which the oil isforced connected to the'delivery side of the pump, a heating element insaid chamber, and said heating chamber being disposed between the pumpand said bypass means.

4. In an apparatus of the character described, a supply tank, a pumpmounted within the tank, a suction line for the pump to draw liquid fromthe tank, a heating chamber within the tank to which the pump delivers,a heating unit in said chamber, and conduit means leading from theheating chamber to convey a part of the pumped and heated liquid to aremote point of delivery, and bypass means within the tank and adjacentthe heating chamber to return another part of the heated liquid from theheating means to the tank supply adjacent the point of suction of thepump.

5. In an apparatus for transporting a viscous liquid, a supply tank, awell within the tank and presenting a compartment separate from thetank, a pump within the well having a suction line leading to the tankto draw liquid from the tank into the well to maintain a quantity ofliquid therein, liquid supply means leading from the pump to a remotepoint of delivery without the tank and bypass means within the well toreturn a part of the pumped liquid to the supply in the tank.

6. In an apparatus for transporting a viscous liquid, a supply tank, awell within the tank andn presenting a compartment separate from thetank, a pump Within the well having a suction line leading to the tankto draw liquid from the tank into the well to maintain a quantity ofliquid therein, liquid supply means leading from the pump to a remotepoint of delivery without the tank, and by-pass means within the well toreturn a part of the pumped liquid to thesupply in the tank, said pumpbeing submerged within the liquid in the well.

7. An apparatus for transporting viscous fluid as in claim 6 wherein anoil heater is provided in the well through which oil is passed by thepump to heat the oil circulated by the pump.

8. In an apparatus for transporting a viscous liquid, a supply tank, awell within the tank and presenting a compartment separate fromthe tank,a pump within the well having a suction line leading to the tank todrawliquid from the tank into the well to maintain a quantity of liquidtherein, liquid supply means ,leading :from the pump to a remote pointof delivery without the tank, bypass means within the well to return apart of .the phmped liquid to the supply in the tank, and a heater insaid well between the ,pump and said bypass means whereby the liquiddischarged by the pump is heated before return to the supply tank andbefore being delivered to the supply means leading to said remote point.

9. In an apparatus for transporting aviscous liquid, a supply tank, awell within the'tank'and presenting a compartment separate frorn,thetank, a pump within the well having a suction line leading .to the.tank to draw liquid from the tank into the Well to maintain a quantityof liquid therein, liquid; supply means leading vfrom the pump to aremote point of delivery without the tank, by-pass means within thewellto vrettirna :part of the pumped liquid to the supply .in-the tank,and a heaterin said well between the-pump andsaid by-pass means wherebythe liquid discharged ;.by the pump is heated before return to thesupply tank and before being delivered to the supply means leadingtosaid =remote point, said pump and heating means being immersed withinthe liquid in the well.

10. In anapparatus for transporting a viscous liquid,

;a supply tank, awellwithin the tank and presenting a compartmentseparate from the tank,.a pump within the well having a suction lineleading .to the tankto draw liquid from the tank into the well .tomaintain a quantity of hquid therein, liquid supply means leadingfromthe pump to a remote point of delivery withoutthe tank, by-

pass means within the well to return a part of the pumped liqu1d to thesupply in the tank,,and.means for electrically heating saidliquid supplymeans without the tank.

ll. In an apparatusfor. transporting aviscous liquid, a supply tank, -awell-within the tank and presenting a compartment separate from thetankfa pump withinthe well having a suction line leading to the tank todraw liquid from the tank intothe wellitomaintaina quantity ofliquidtherein, liquid ,sppplymeans leading from the pump to a remotepoint ofdelivery without the tank, bypass means w1thin the well toretprna part of the pumped liquid to the supply in the .tank, means forelectrically heating said liquid supplymeanswithout the tank, and alsoheating -at least a. portion of the suction and return lines within thetank. i i

12. In anapparatus for transportingaviscous liquid, a tank, suction andreturn lines having their ends immersed within -the liquid in. the.tank, a .well within the tank and presenting.a ,compartment separatetherefrom, a pump withinthe .well-havingits intake .connected with saidsuction line asupply line to ,which the pump delivers extendingwithoutthe wellzto a. point remote from the tank, by-pass means withinthe iwellqconnected to the discharge of the pumpandsaid returneline, andsaid return line passingthrough-the well to return apart of the pumpedliquid to the tank, and. a heating. chamber within the wellbetweenithepumpand said by-pass means.

13. In an apparatus for. transporting a viscous liquid, a

tank, suctionandreturn lineshavingtheir ends immersed within the liquidin the tank,.a, well within the tank and presenting acompartmenflseparate therefrom, a pump within the well having its.intake. connected with said suction line, a supply line towhich the pumpdelivers lead- .ing to a point remote from.the.tank,-.by-pass meanswithin the well connected to the discharge of the pump and said returnline to return a part ofthe pumped liquid to the tank, said suctionline' communicating with the interior of the well to maintain a level ofliquid within the well within which the pump is immersed,'and a heatingchamber within the well between the pump and said by-pass means.

l4. Inan apparatus for transporting a viscous liquid,

a tank, suction and return l ines having their ends immersed within theliquid in the tank, a well within the tank, a pump withinthe-well havingits intake connected with said'suction'linefa supply line to which thepump delivers leading ,to apoint remote from the tank, by-pass meanswitbin the well connected to the discharge of the pump and'said returnline to return a part of the pumped liquid tothe tank, said pumpmaintaining a level of liquid within the well within which the pump isimmersed, a heater within the well between the pump and said supplyline, and means to heat the liquid prior to its delivery to said supplyline and to said by-pass means to deliver heated liquid to said remotepoint and to return heated liquid to the tank.

' 15. In an apparatus for transporting a viscous liquid, a tank, suctionand return lines'having their ends immersed within the liquid in thetank, a wellwithin the tank, a pump within the well having its intakeconnected with said suction line, means whereby said pump maintains alevel of oil in the well within which the pump is immersed, a supplylineto which the pump delivers leading to a point remote fromthe tank,by-pass means within the well connected to the discharge of the pump andsaid return line to return a part of the pumped liquid to the tank, andelectricakmeans for-heating said supply line and at least a part of.said suction and return lines within the tank.

16. In an apparatus for transporting a viscous liquid,

atank, suction andreturn lines having their ends imthe tank, andelectrical means ,for heating saidsupply line and at least a part ofsaid suction and return lineswithin the tank, including fthe immersedportions of the latter. 17. in combination with a supply tank in whichoil or other viscous liquid is tobe transported, a heater supported bythe tank wall, inlet and outlet means for the "heater, a heating elementin said heater, a pump having its outlet connected to'the inlet'of theheater to force the oil therethrough, conduit means connected to theoutlet means of the heater to convey a portion of the pumped oil to aremote point of delivery, by-pass means toreturn a' portion ,of the oilfromthehea'ter to the tank, theinlet of said by-pass means beingadjacent the outlet means of the heater, and a pressure-relief valve tocontrol said by-pass means.

18. in combination with a supply tank in which oil or other viscousliquid is to be transported, a heater supported by the tank wall,inle't'and outlet meansfor the heater, a heating element in said heater,apump having its outlet connected to the inlet of theheater to force theoil therethrough, conduit means connected to the outlet means of theheater to convey a portion of the pumped oil to a remote point ofdelivery, by-pass means to return a portion of the oil from the heaterto the tank, the inlet of said by-pass'means being adjacent the outletmeans of the heater, a pressure-relief valve to control said bypassmeans, and meansto heat said conduit means between the tank and thepoint of delivery of the oil.

19. In an apparatus of the character described, a supply tank, a pumpmounted within the tank, a suction line for the pump to draw liquid fromthe tank, a delivery line receiving liquid from the pump outlet andconveying it to a point of delivery without the tank, a bypass lineleading from the delivery line at a point within the tank ReferencesCited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Losee Mar. 12,1940 Wilson Oct. 31, 1933 McFerran May 29, 1934 Lines Dec. 10, 1940Bachmann Mar. 18, 1941 Shepperd et a1. Mar. 10, 1942 Hutterer Dec. 28,1943 Mueller et a1 Jan. 20, 1948 Kateley Nov. 14, 1950

